WHS focused on college prep

By LINDA HALLStaff Writer Published: September 29, 2012 4:00 AM

WOOSTER DISTRICT -- The most recently reported ACT scores among Wooster High School students aren't yet "best in class," the Wooster City Schools' superintendent said, but they're close.

"We hit an all-time high this year," Superintendent Michael Tefs said during this year's first Community Conversation, held at the Wooster Inn on Sept. 19.

Wooster seniors averaged a 24 on the test in 2012, setting a new bar for the high school.

"We've progressively been improving these scores," Tefs said, but "we still need to get more students to take the ACT."

While the "buzz" over the last few years has been a "21st century education," he said, now "it's really about college and career readiness."

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The ACT test is "something we'd like all kids to take, even if they're not going to college," Tefs said.

The career-readiness part of the equation is already well-handled by the Wayne County Schools Career Center, he said, calling it "one of the finest career centers in the state."

"We send about 107 students (there)," he said, "and they come out with some wonderful career-ready skills."

"Wooster High," on the other hand, he said, "is (primarily) a college-prep (school)."

One parent attending the discussion group asked Tefs why a student should take the ACT if he or she does not plan on attending college.

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First of all, because it is a nationally-normed assessment of achievement, according to Tefs, who said the scores help program academics and also noted, "we have students who go to the Career Center who also go to college," particularly in the nursing field.

"You never quite know when a student will want to (or decide to) go to college," Tefs said, and by encouraging all students to take the ACT, "we are helping them take that next step in the crosswalk."

About 50 percent of Wooster High students take the ACT; Tefs said he would like to see that percentage reach 80 percent.

Each year has been "trending in the right direction," Tefs said, noting last year, 18 more students took the ACT than had done so the year before.

Another parent questioned why Wooster High School does not offer an ACT prep class and went on to say Orrville City Schools offers one during the school day.

Tefs said the Wooster High School curriculum is "significantly different" from Orrville's in that Wooster offers 16 advanced placement classes.

"The schedule at Wooster High School is so tight," Tefs said, if the district were to create that ACT prep class, "what is going to be dropped?"

The point also was raised that students who took advanced math in eighth grade may need a refresher class by the time they are ready to be tested on a college entrance exam.

"Some of the prep courses can be expensive," Tefs pointed out, believing the fee could create an academic divide -- "immediately separating who can and who can't (afford it)."

Credible online sources for the same purpose exist, Tefs said, adding as well, Wooster personnel have talked about using the expertise within the district and at local colleges to provide a review course.

The preparation offered by such a class, in Tefs' opinion, is "more about emotional and mental (readiness). If (it) does anything, it instills confidence," he said.

Wooster's director of secondary education, Rich Leone, said the students in the district actually get experience taking the test with the ACT's precursors -- EXPLORE and PLAN -- showing, "Where am I strong? Where am I weak?"

Referring back to the discussion on optimum score, one attendee asked, "What would be 'best in class?'"

With an ACT score of 25, "lots of doors will open to (students)," Tefs said.

Upper Arlington schools, with a poverty rate of 7 percent; and New Albany schools, with a poverty rate of 6 percent, are achieving that benchmark with their students, Tefs said. "Best in class would be 25 if I could set the bar there."

While Wooster does not use its 50 percent poverty rate as an excuse, it has to be recognized, he said.

Wooster City Schools are involved in planning a system in which personnel and parents can say, "What do college and career readiness look like in a kindergartner?" Tefs said, so remediation may begin early.

"We're a good two points higher," he said, than many schools in the county, but "that doesn't mean we can't do better."

When an attendee questioned whether students in the "lower 50 percent" are taking the ACT test, Tefs said the district tries to make sure no one who wants to do so is prohibited by insufficient finances.

The district has partners who are able and willing to step in with donations, he said, with input from guidance counselors.

"We don't have a system in place," he acknowledged, but rather, "It really is on a case-by-case basis. I'm not going to tell you that everybody who wanted to take it, took it," he said. "Pride will sometimes come into play."

In the Upper Arlington school district, 80 percent of high school students take the ACT.

One of Tefs' concerns is, "We are not doing a very good job with careers."

A district can't celebrate a student "just walking across the stage" to pick up a diploma. The next question is, "Now what?"

A graduate may legitimately ask, "Do you have a job for me?" Tefs said. "That's tough."

Not knowing the answer -- "that's just not acceptable," he said.

The conversation about achievement on a college entrance exam led to parents expressing interest in obtaining more information through course booklets about prerequisites for other classes or activities, for example, what classes have to be taken in order for a student to be able to work on the high school newspaper, parent Barb Friedhoff said.

A parent needs all the information possible, she said. "You learn early on there are choices and decisions to be made."

No one wants to be unable to "grasp an opportunity (because) we didn't know about it," she said.

Mentoring of parents is important, said parent Carrie Buchanan-Vossler, who suggested information in a video format would be welcomed.

Tefs said an online presence could be considered.

"This is a wonderful conversation," he said, as parents gave their input.

Reporter Linda Hall can be reached at 330-264-1125, Ext. 2230, or lhall@the-daily-record.com.